h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was walking in a shopping mall this afternoon, and I heard a song
that I recognized ["Piano man," by Billy Joel]. This was an "aha" moment for me, as I would have had no clue what song it was had I heard it three years ago.

So, many thanks to all the researchers who helped me gather recordings a couple years ago. One researcher suggested Loreena McKennitt, a Canadian artist I'd never heard of. Another suggested Santana. Then there was the one who kept insisting that I give Jimi Hendrix a chance. This turned out to be well worth the effort. One researcher suggested Van Morrison, another Black Sabbath. To be honest, I had heard about heavy metal but hadn't actually
listened to it. But given specific examples I soon realized that there were metal bands that I could enjoy.

Then there was the researcher who had worked as a disc jockey. His praise for my eventual collection was music to my ears.

A couple years out, I find that I enjoy my pop recordings more and more. This is but one example of the usefulness of H2G2, where people get together in cyberspace to share what they know and what they have found useful.

Thanks to everyone who helped.

I don't think I helped much, but it is gracious of you to tell us we convinced you to listen. Thanks paulh!


Now I must go and find some highbrow classical music to fit my mood these days.

What a nice journal. Glad to have been of help

(My iTunes is set to "random rock" and without looking I can tell it is now playing Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "4 + 20" from the album "Déjà Vu"

...and now "Those Guys" by Flo & Eddie from the album "Rock Steady"

never a dull moment )

I'm listening to some bassoon quartets by Devienne now. Then I'll listen to the musical "Avenue Q."

I'm pretty sure I have a CD by CSN&Y somewhere. I also have CDs by CSN and by Neil Young. Pierce, you were also persuasive regarding Young. I especially like his song about the harvest moon. As a song, it's pure poetry. If popular music is capable of creating gems like that, it's worth listening to.

Lanzababy, I had a few songs by Santana anyway in the "Woodstock Concert" set, but it's nice to have a whole album.

Both "Harvest" and "Harvest Moon" are gems in my collection. As is "Santana" - and too many other albums by Neil and Carlos than I can remember off the top of my head

I like the other Neil [Diamond] too.

Here's a link to a list of great 20th century pieces that straddle genres like crazy:

http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/vote/list100.html

I'm pretty sure that I have recordings of at least 8-0 of them, and have heard and remembered some of the others when they first became popular.

Jazz, show tunes, Rhythm & Blues, Country, Rock standards [Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue] -- any music that was good music regardless of genre is likely to be included.

I've just checked then list again. I probably have 75 or more, with 10 or 15 that I have no recordings for but remember the songs from when they first came out. I'm light on rap music and Gospel [Mahalia Jackson excepted], so "Rapper's delight" and "Take my hand, precious Lord" aren't in my collection. On the other hand, if "Take my hand, precious Lord" was played at Martin Luther King Jr's funeral, then I heard it at the time, or when I saw the film "Selma."

Now that's a topic that one of my music teachers had promised me an argument on, but we never got round to. Coming from a 20th century angle, I proposed the premise that a tune was a good tune if it could be played in any style at all. Coming from the 17th Century (or even the 14th century sometimes) this music teacher didn't agree with that at all.

Tallis' and Pachelbel's canons are surely proof of this, as are many of the early Beatles tunes.

I love "Summer is a coming in" and "The armed man," both of which are hundreds of years old.

Karl Jenkins' "The Armed man," first performed in 2000 A.D., took
a Renaissance French song and spun it through numerous stylistic eras into the gospel style of the 20th Century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Armed_Man

Yes - and Summer is ycomen in could be sung Reggae, or operatic or any jazz style. Point made.